Medfly quarantine 79 square miles, growers hear about eradication options

Over 250 growers, packers, and distributors met with representatives from the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) November 17 to discuss the discovery of Mediterranean fruit flies (Medfly) and Medfly larvae within Fallbrook’s greater agricultural community and the options available to them to save their crops.

Four adult Medflies and 68 larvae were found after a fruit stripping and cutting operation was conducted in the Fallbrook area from October 29 to November 1, causing the county to quarantine a 79 square mile radius around the infestation site.

CDFA crews are working with...